Even before Monday night's debacle against an exhausted Jazz team, the Net were spiraling downward, as evidenced by the Power Rankings released earlier in the day. Both John Schuhmann and Marc Stein had them at #29, just above the Bobcats, who the Nets swept last week. In real terms, they're fourth from the bottom, ahead of only the Bobcats, Wizards and Hornets.

Schuhmann points out, "They're 6-18 (with 33 percent of the wins coming against Charlotte) and are allowing 110 points per 100 possessions in Newark. Gerald Wallace is shooting just 36 percent with his new team, but he's a plus-11 in 156 minutes with Deron Williams."

Stein (and Chris Sheridan) point to D-Will's rising number of technicals as a barometer of his frustration, "What does D-Will have to show for the longest season of his career? A trip to All-Star Weekend. His 57 points against Charlotte and 50 points in a game for Besiktas of Turkey during the lockout. And, lately, technical fouls ... four T's in the past four games as the frustration gets harder and harder to stifle."

• Thunder pass the first test - John Schuhmann - NBA.com
• NBA Basketball Power Rankings - Marc Stein - ESPN
• NBA Power Rankings: Thunder move up to second spot - Britt Robson - Sports Illustrated
  
• NBA Power Rankings: Thunder Storm Castle, But Bulls Retain Throne - Tom Ziller - SB Nation
• NBA Power Rankings: Thunder move up to second spot - Kurt Helin - NBC Sports
  
• Chris Sheridan's Weekly NBA Power Rankings - Chris Sheridan - Sheridan Hoops